Manchester United had a tough last season, finishing eighth in the Premier League with a goal difference of -1. They also came last in their UEFA Champions League group, getting knocked out of Europe. However, they did manage to win the FA Cup by beating Manchester City.
Manager Erik ten Hag aims to improve this season. He will rely on his players, including new signings, to push for a top-four finish.
Let’s look at five best players who could help the team succeed.
5. Kobbie Mainoo
If last season was the worst for the Red Devils, then Kobbie Mainoo was the bright spot. The 19-year-old secured his place in midfield, scoring five goals and providing three assists. He played so well that he was selected for England’s Euro squad.
At the Euros, he continued to perform strongly, becoming an important player for the team with six appearances. Ten Hag will be counting on Mainoo to continue his good form and help the team climb back up the Premier League table.
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4. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is the club captain for a reason. It often feels like he has been the one carrying Manchester United since he joined. Next season, he will need to perform even better if the club wants to improve from their eighth-place finish in the League.
But Bruno doesn’t have much room to improve, as he’s already doing well. Even though United was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage, he still contributed to four goals in six games. He was just as effective in the Premier League, with 18 goal contributions in 35 games.
3. Lisandro Martinez
The Argentine defender, nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ for his tough defensive style, played a crucial role under Ten Hag at Ajax, which led the manager to bring him to Manchester United. He also helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup and the latest Copa America.
When he joined Manchester United in 2022, there were concerns about his height, as he stands at five-foot-nine. However, he made up for it with strong tackling and determination, helping the team win the Carabao Cup.
Unfortunately, he missed most of last season due to injury, playing only 11 league games, and his absence was deeply felt. Hopefully, he stays fit and brings back his winning mentality, as he’ll be essential for Manchester United next season.
2. Andre Onana
Last season, despite letting in 58 goals—the most in the club’s Premier League history—Andre Onana had a high save percentage. Without the Cameroonian goalkeeper, things could have been much worse, as he saved 73.1% of the shots he faced.
Onana will be a key player for Ten Hag in the upcoming season, though he’ll be hoping for a stronger defense in front of him. His skill helped Inter reach the Champions League final before they sold him to Manchester United last summer, so he’ll be looking to get back to that top form again.
1. Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund joined Manchester United with a lot of excitement, and some even compared him to Erling Haaland when he arrived last summer. However, after a slow start, he ended the season with 16 goals and two assists in 43 matches across all competitions.
He’s still very young and has shown signs of his talent. Last season, he performed better than expected in the Premier League, but he’ll need to keep improving next season to help his team climb the ranks.
At 21 years old, Hojlund will also need to keep playing well to face competition from new signing Joshua Zirkzee.
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